All oil removed from Manolis L, coast guard tweets

The Manolis L, pictured here while sinking near Change Islands in 1985, posed an environmental risk due the potential release of oil still in its tanks say residents of the area. — file photo

Sunken freighter had been seeping oil in Notre Dame Bay for years

A sunken vessel that had been seeping oil into the waters of Notre Dame Bay off Change Islands for years has finally had all its oil removed, the Canadian Coast Guard announced in a tweet Saturday afternoon.

That’s good news for communities along the province’s northeast that have been expressing concern for years about leakage from the Manolis L’s wreck.

The bulk freighter, which sank to a depth of more than 70 metres in 1985, lay dormant until April 2013 when cracks in the hull, coupled with a powerful storm, allowed some fuel oil to reach the surface. Since then the Canadian Coast Guard had been monitoring the Manolis L and conducting pollution containment operations.

The federal government announced in April it had awarded a $15.1-million contract for the removal of bulk oil from the shipwreck. The contract was awarded to Ardent Global LLC. Pumping operations began in July. The Tidewater Enabler, a salvage vessel, pumped oil from the wreck.

The Canadian Coast Guard tweeted Saturday afternoon that the pumping operations have concluded.

#ManolisL Update: YES!! Bulk oil pumping operations are now complete. The hull survey and monitoring period has commenced and continues until we depart from the site.